| For Immediate Release Case #11HF1297 May 18, 2011 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
REGISTERED SEX OFFENDER CHARGED WITH MASTURBATING IN PUBLIC LIBRARY IN FRONT OF THREE TEENAGE GIRLS
NEWPORT BEACH – A registered sex offender was charged today with masturbating in front of three teenage girls in a public library. Robert Bruce Engel, 67, Mission Viejo, is charged with one felony count of indecent exposure with prior convictions for indecent exposure in 1999 and 2002. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of three years in state prison. Engel was arraigned today and is being held on $20,000 bail. He is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing May 26, 2011, at 9:00 a.m. in Department H-1, Harbor Justice Center, Newport Beach.
At approximately 7:00 p.m. on May 9, 2011, Engel is accused of going to the Rancho Santa Margarita Library and sitting on a bench inside across from three teenage girls. He is accused of putting a newspaper across his lap, placing his hand under the newspaper, and masturbating.
The victims reported Engel to the librarian, but the defendant is accused of leaving the library before police arrived.
On the evening of May 16, 2011, Engel is accused of returning to the same library. The librarian recognized him and contacted the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, who investigated this case. Engel was arrested at the library.
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